Reversible drive



Oct. l0, 1967 A. M. DELLORFANO ETAL 3,346,182

REVERSIBLE DRIVE Filed Feb. 16, 1966 Oct. l0, 1967 A. M. DELL'ORFANO ETAL REVERSIBLE'DRIVE Filed Feb. 1e, 196e I l iff/ beets-Sheet 2 CL l0, 1967 A. M. DELL'oRFANo ETAL 3,345,182

REVERSIBLE DRIVE Filed Feb. 16, M13966 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FLg 7 Od- 10, 1967 A. M. DELLoRl-ANO ETAL 3,346,182

REVERS I BLE DRI VE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 16, 1966 United States Patent O 3,346,182 REVERSIBLE DRIVE Anthony Michael DellOrfano, Watertown, Roger Williams Hood, North Attleboro, Stanley Wayne Rollins, Brockton, and Robert Raymond Siders, Medlield, Mass., assignors to Hersey-Sparling Meter Company, Dedham, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Feb. 16, 1966, Ser. No. 527,852 13 Claims. (Cl. 23S-91) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A bi-directional quick index in which a drive element moves in either of two directions in continuous response to a measured parameter, and the index is advanced in a substantially instantaneous movement after an interval of accumulated change in. the parameter, irrespective of the direction of motion of the drive element. To accomplish the instantaneous advance of the index, an energy storage unit accumulates energy from movement of the drive element corresponding vto less than one intervals change in the parameter, and then (once the accumulated change in the parameter reaches one interval) instantaneously transmits this accumulated energy through a bi-directional mechanical coupling to an index actuating member to advance the index.

This invention relates to e. g., in water meters.

It is a primary object of the invention to provide an improved quick index device which operates despite reversal of the direction of motion of an element mounted for mechanical movement continuously responsive to a measured parameter. Other objects are to provide such a device which is quantitatively neutral to the continuously responsive element after each stepwise movement of the index, in which the index is actuated in steps occupying extremely small time intervals, and which is simple, precise, inexpensive, reliable, and operates with minimum wear.

In general, the invention features an element Amounted for mechanical movement in either of tWo directions responsive continuously to a parameter being measured; an index mounted for mechanical movement responsive stepwise to an interval o f change of the parameter; an energy storage unit responsive to the element to accumulate energy during the movement of the element corresponding to accumulated change of the parameter less than the interval and to substantially instantaneously discharge the accumulated energy to the index upon movement of the element corresponding to accumulated change of the parameter equal to the interval; and an actuating member mounted to transmit the accumulated energy to the index, the member being in turn actuated by the element through mechanical coupling that is independent of the direction of movement of the element. In preferred embodiments said actuating member is mounted for linear movement in one direction while energy is being accumulated in a spring directly coupled at one end to the member and for reverse linear movement during which the accumulated energy is discharged (preferably through a lug and face gear arrangement) to produce the entirety of the stepwise movement of the index corresponding to the interval of change of the parameter; a stop member is mounted to couple mechanically to the index at the completion of each stepwise movement to prevent override of the index; the actuating member has a cam surface directed along its line of movement; the mechanical coupling includes quick indexing devices useful,

an actuator rotatably mounted ad- ,Actuating arm jacent the cam surface and having a pair of oppositely directed rounded lobes arranged to Contact the cam Sul'- face to drive the actuating member against the spring and a second pair of lobes above but offset from the rounded lobes, each of the last mentioned lobes being in the path of the element which in turn is aligned with the corresponding rounded lobe when in contact with one of the olTset lobes to drive the actuator, the actuator having a drop olf position at which a rounded lobe that has been driving the actuating member drops away from the cam surface upon continued rotation of the actuator, the element being on the center line of movement of the member when the actuator is at the drop off position.

Other objects, features, and advantages will appear from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, taken together with the attached drawings thereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view partially broken away of a portion of the totalizing apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a section along 2 2 of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a plan View partially broken away and partially in section of the indexing portion of the totalizing apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing a dilerent position of the indexing mechanism;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing yet another position of the indexing mechanism;

FIG. 6 is a section along 6 6 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the number disc and brush assemblies with the wheels partially broken away to reveal the brushes;

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of a portion of the totalizing apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, register 26 is sealingly mounted on a standard water meter with cylindrical meter wall 20 against rubber O-ring 21 in groove 22 in base plate 24 (of a thermoplastic sold by General Electric Co. as Lexan) of the register. Cover 27 (of Lexan) is bolted to plate 24, the cover and plate being sealed by rubber O-ring 29. Change gear 28, driven by meter output gear 30, is mounted on lower drive spindle 32 in turn journaled in lower magnetic drive spindle bearing 34. Circular face magnetized 4-pole ceramic magnet 36 is mounted at the end of spindle 32 for rotation with spindle head 38 above and spaced from raised portion 40. Bearing 34 is snapped into cylindrical extension 48 of plate 24, bringing spindle head 38 into bearing registry with steel ball bearing 50 snapped into recess 51 at the underside of plate 24. vIdentical components are arranged, symmetrically, on the above side of plate 24 including upper magnetic drive bearing 52 snapped into cylindrical plate extension 54, spindle 56 with head 57, magnet 58 and ball bearing 60 in recess 61. Hooks 54a of extension 54 ride up vertical tracks 52a to snap over bearing 52. (Corresponding hooks and tracks in extension 48 and bearing 34 do not appear, because angularly spaced from those shown.)

Drive pinion 62 fixed on spindle 56 drives gear train 64 having gear units 66, 68, each having a 40 tooth gear 66a, 68a, and a pinion 6617, 68b; gear unit 70 having 50 tooth gear 70a, and pinion 70b; and 50 tooth drive gear 72; each supported for rotation on a spindle 74a-d, extending between appropriately elongated gear unit positioning lugs 76a-d, 77a-d on plate 24 and cover 27.

Cylindrical lug 7S depends from drive gear 72 adjacent its periphery (see especially F-IG. 17). Index actuator 80 is supported for rotation on the same spindle 74a as and beneath gear 72, and includes a generally diamond shaped lower portion 82 with rounded lobes 84, 86 and a somewhat longer and wider upper portion `88 with lobes 90, 92. 94 has -a slotted alignment leg 96 that straddles spindle 74a, and a camming portion 98 providing above leg 96 a smooth vertical cam surface 100 of a length equal to that of actuator portion 88. Arm 94 further includes indexing extension 104 extending forwardly toward 'number vdisc yassembly wheel 120a, with obliquely faced indexing lug 108 protruding to the side to engage face gear =110 (FIG. 3,) of wheel 120a. Compression spring 112 is disposed parallel to and beneath arm 94 in elongated recess 12 in elongated lug 76a wit-h its ends respectively between the forward inner end of lug 76a and arm 94 at lug 102, biasing arm 94 towards spindle 74a. Actuator arm spring 114 is secured at its ends. respectively to the forward end of exten-sion 104 and to stationary clamp 116 to bias indexing extension 104 toward wheel 120m maintaining indexing lug l10-8 in firm registry with the teeth of face gear 110. L-shaped lug 1111 extends from the side near the forward end of extension 104 and acts toV prevent override of the number disc assembly during the indexing sequence.

Number disc assembly 106 has four identical wheels 120a-d (FIG. 7) supported for rotation on shaft 126 snapped into and journaled in end supports 12%8, 130, each having a number disc 122 bearing numerals zero through nine, a circular gear 132 at the right hand (in FIG. 3) end of the wheel, four cam track segments 134, 136, 138, 140 to the left of disc 122, and a two-toothed circular gear 142 at the left end of the wheel. Wheel 12011 provides face gear 1 10 on its right hand face. Similar face gears on the other three wheels perform no function. Shaft 144, snapped into and journaled in end supports 128, 130 above and forwardly of sh-aft 126 carries three freely rotatable mutilated pinion gears 148,150, 152, each pinion gear Ihaving every other tooth cut away at its right by -a fraction ofv its width and being located to register. with gears 132 and 142 to decimally relate the four number discsl in standard mechanical fashion. Spring clip 154, mounted in clamp 116, engages gear 132 of wheel 120:1 to prevent any possible rearwardr rotation of the number disc assembly owing to friction between lug 108 and face gear 110.

A brush assembly is disposed beneath number disk assemblyy 106 and is, connected to cable 178 to provide a binary readout.

Cover 27 is .molded with surfacev texture leaving four. windows '29a above the number disc to enable visual. readingof,` the wheel positions.

Indicator wheel 18,0, is mounted ony spindle. 56 and is. observable through window 182 in cover 27 particularly for testing purposes.

In operation, gear 30 drives change gear 28 at an` angular velocity proportional to the flow. through the meter. The velocity is stepped down through the gear train 64, producing a relatively slow rotation of lug 78. Because. of the novel quick-change assembly for input to the first wheel 120a, the rota-tion may be in either direction. Eventually, lug 78 contacts lobe 90; or 92 of actuator 80 aligned above lobe 84 or 86 and rotates the actuator (in either direction) to bring one of lobes 84, 86 against cam surface 100, gradually driving arm. 94 forward against spring 1712 andl simultaneously moving extension 104 rightwardly against spring 114. as lug 108 rides up on a slope Sl of face gear 1-10 (FIG. 4). As actuator 80 continues its rotation lug 108 snaps into engagement with the next slope 113 of gear 110 (FIG. 5) and, as lobe 84 or 86 moves, past the center of and drops out of contact with surface 100, at which time lug 78 is over the center line of motion of arm 94, spring 112 forces arm 94 rapidly toward spindle 74a, wheel 12011 being advanced one digital position. Lug 111 engages two teeth of gear 132 of wheel 120e to prevent the wheel from advancing more than a single digital position, without undue wear. The. rotation of lug 78 continues and eventually the other of lobes `84, 86y causes la unit advance of wheel 12011. In this manner, wheel 12011 advances one unit for. each 180 rotation of gear72 (a 200:1 velocity reduction relative to gear 28, which can be increased to 400:1 by removing one of lobes '84, 86), with the actual movement of wheel occuring during a very small increment of time, to minimize errors through reading while in transition. Wheels 120th, c and d are turned appropriately through mutilated pinions 148 to provide a visual decimal representation of the metered flow at the same time. Thus, e.g., as wheel Iv120a moves between its digital positions nine 'and zero, its gear 142 engages pinion 1418 which in turn is engaged with gear 132 of wheel 120b, thereby temporarily coupling wheels 120a an-d 120b and moving wheel L20b one digital position.

Cable 178 leaves the housing through opening 27a and is surrounded by silicone rubber potting 24a (sold by Dow Corning Corporation as Silastic 732RTV).

Other embodiments will occur to. those skilled in the art and are within the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A quick index devicewhich comprises a drive element mounted for mechanical movement in either of two directions responsive continuously to a parameter being measured, an index mounted for mechanical movement responsive stepwise to an interval of change of said parameter,

an energy storage unit responsive to said drive element to accumulate energy during the movement of said drive element ycorresponding to accumulated change of said parameter less than said interval and to substantially instantaneously discharge said accumulated energy to said index upon movement of said drive element corresponding to change of said parameter equal to said interval,

an actuating member having a cam surface and being mounted for linear movement to transmit said accumulated energy to said index to advance said index substantially instantaneously upon change of said parameter equal to said interval, and

an vactuator rotatably mounted adjacent said cam surface in the. path of said` drive element, said member being actuated by said d-rive element through said actuator independently of the direction of movement of said element.

2. The devicey of claim 1 wherein said actuating member isv mounted to actuate said index through the entirety of the stepwise movement` corresponding to said interval while said member is moving in a single direction.

3. The. device of. claim 1 wherein said energy storage unit is directly mechanically coupled tor said actuating member, andI` said actuating member is mounted for movemeut ina first direction while said energy is being accumulatedA and in a.. second direction while said accumulated energy is being dischargedk and said index is being actuatedthrough` the. entirety of the stepwise movement corresponding to` said interval.

4, The deviceofclaim 1 wherein said element is mounted forrnovement through a closed path and having a rst position vwhen. a` stepwise movement of said index is initiated after movement of said element along said path irl a4 f irstof said two directions, a second position when a stepwise movement of said index is initiated after movement of said element alongsaid path in a second two directions and a, third position equidistant along said path fromI each, of; said first and second positions and corresponding to theA same fractional portion of a stepwise movement of said index after movement of said element along saidI path in either of said two directions.

5, The device of claim 4 wherein said actuator has at least one portion in the pathl of said element, said element causing said actuator torotate when said element and portion a-re.- in contact, and at least one lobe having a path when. said actuator rotates that intersects said. cam surface, said cam surface being directed along the line of movement of said actuating member so that when said lobe. contacts said cam surface it will drive said actuating member in said` linear movement, said energy storage unit accumulating energy during said linear movement of said membe-r when driven by said lobe, said lobe having a drop oli position at which continued rotation of said actuator carries said lobe away from said cam surface, releasing said member to reverse said linear movement discharging said accumulated energy and actuating said index.

6. The device of claim 4 wherein said element is a lug depending from a rotary gear, said portion is in the direction of said lug from said lobe and is recessed so that said lug is aligned with said lobe when in contact with said portion.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said element is on the center line of movement of said member when said lobe is at said drop oil position.

8. The device of claim l wherein said actuator has two said lobes oppositely directed, and one of said portions corresponding to each of said l-obes.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein said energy storage unit is a spring having one end connected to said actuating member.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein said element is a cylindrical lug depending from a rotary gear,

said actuating member has at the end opposite said actuating lug a slotted alignment leg st-raddling a spindle and has a planar cam face directed along the line of said linear motion toward said element and away from said face gear,

said mechanical coupling includes an actuator rotatably mounted adjacent said cam surface, said actuator including a generally diamond shaped portion providing two oppositely directed rounded lobes, and a second portion which is in the direction of said element from said diamond shaped portion, said second portion providing two lobes respectively adjacent but offset from said rounded lobes, each of said two lobes of said second portion being in the path of said element, said element being aligned with the corresponding rounded lobe when in Contact with a lobe of said second portion, said cam surface being in the path of said rounded lobes when said actuator is -rotated, and

said energy storage unit is a spring aligned with the line of said linear motion and secured at one end to said actuating member.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein said index includes a face gear, said actuating member is mounted for linear movement parallel to the plane of said face gear and lateral movement toward and laway from said plane and includes an actuating lug projecting toward said face gear, and said member is biased ltoward said face gear with said lug in Contact with the slopes of said gear.

l2. The device of claim 1 wherein said index includes a rotary gear mounted to rotate when said index moves stepwise, said actuating member is mounted for movement parallel to the plane of said gear to actuate said index in said stepwise movement, and said actuating member includes a lug mounted for movement toward said gear during said stepwise movement, said lug having a position in bearing engagement with at least two of the teeth of said gear at the completion of said stepwise movement.

13. A quick index device which comprises a drive element mounted for mechanical movement in either of two directions responsive continuously to a :parameter being measured, an index mounted for mechanical movement responsive stepwise to an interval of change of said parameter, an energy storage unit responsive to said drive element to accumulate energy during the movement of said drive element corresponding to accumulated change of said parameter less than said interval and to substantially instantaneously discharge said accumulated energy to said index upon movement of said drive element corresponding to change of said parameter equal to said interval, an actuating member mounted to transmit said accumulated energy to said index to advance said index substantially instantaneously upon change of said parameter equal to said interval, said member being in turn actuated by said drive element through mechanical coupling that is independent ofthe direction of movement of said element, and a stop member mounted to couple mechanically to said index at the completion of each stepwise movement thereof corresponding to said interval.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,711,027 6/1955 Williamson 23S-132 2,934,265 4/1960 Sjoblom 235-30 3,057,553 10/1962 Billeter 235--132 3,166,945 -1/1965 Wallquist et al 23S-91 RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner. STANLEY A. WAL, Assistant Examiner,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,346,182 October 10, 1967 Anthony Michael Dell'Orfano et al.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 4, line 3, for "occuring" read occurring line 61, after "second" insert of said column 5, line 7, for the claim reference numeral "4" read 5 Signed and sealed this 18th day of March 1969.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr. EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A QUICK INDEX DEVICE WHICH COMPRISES A DRIVE ELEMENT MOUNTED FOR MECHANICAL MOVEMENT IN EITHER OF TWO DIRECTIONS RESPONSIVE CONTINUOUSLY TO A PARAMETER BEING MEASURED, AN INDEX MOUNTED FOR MECHANICAL MOVEMENT RESPONSIVE STEPWISE TO AN INTERVAL OF CHANGE OF SAID PARAMETER, AN ENERGY STORAGE UNIT RESPONSIVE TO SAID DRIVE ELEMENT TO ACCUMULATE ENERGY DURING THE MOVEMENT OF SAID DRIVE ELEMENT CORRESPONDING TO ACCUMULATED CHANGE OF SAID PARAMETER LESS THAN SAID INTERVAL AND TO SUBSTANTIALLY INSTANTANEOUSLY DISCHARGE SAID ACCUMULATED ENERGY TO SAID INDEX UPON MOVEMENT OF SAID DRIVE ELEMENT CORRESPONDING TO CHANGE OF SAID PARAMETER EQUAL TO SAID INTERVAL, AN ACTUATING MEMBER HAVING A CAM SURFACE AND BEING MOUNTED FOR LINEAR MOVEMENT TO TRANSMIT SAID ACCUMULATED ENERGY TO SAID INDEX TO ADVANCE SAID INDEX SUBSTANTIALLY INSTANTANEOUSLY UPON CHANGE OF SAID PARAMETER EQUAL TO SAID INTERVAL, AND AN ACTUATOR ROTATABLY MOUNTED ADJACENT SAID CAM SURFACE IN THE PATH OF SAID DRIVE ELEMENT, SAID MEMBER BEING ACTUATED BY SAID DRIVE ELEMENT THROUGH SAID ACTUATOR INDEPENDENTLY OF THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID ELEMENT. 